Contrary to standard narratives on the declining function of parties in fostering political partici-pation, this article argues that far from abandoning the cause of participation, post-communist political parties diversified the understanding of the party as a mobilizing agency by adapting their internal organizations. On the basis of a mid-range number of cases (e.g. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia) the study identified different patterns of evolution within a complex interaction effect between participation and organizational de-velopment. The peculiarity of the parties’ organization and functions has shaped political partic-ipation both as an opportunity structure (legitimizing the political system and increasing citi-zens’ involvement in politics) and as a democratic challenge (increasing the propensity of par-ties towards populism, ‘seasonal’ membership, corruption and clientelism).

Political Activism: Post-communist Challenges and Opportunities in East Central Europe / Soare, Sorina; Iancu, Alexandra. - In: PARTECIPAZIONE E CONFLITTO. - ISSN 2035-6609. - STAMPA. - 9:(2016), pp. 152-180. [10.1285/i20356609v9i1p152]

Political Activism: Post-communist Challenges and Opportunities in East Central Europe

SOARE, SORINA CRISTINA;
2016

Abstract

Contrary to standard narratives on the declining function of parties in fostering political partici-pation, this article argues that far from abandoning the cause of participation, post-communist political parties diversified the understanding of the party as a mobilizing agency by adapting their internal organizations. On the basis of a mid-range number of cases (e.g. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia) the study identified different patterns of evolution within a complex interaction effect between participation and organizational de-velopment. The peculiarity of the parties’ organization and functions has shaped political partic-ipation both as an opportunity structure (legitimizing the political system and increasing citi-zens’ involvement in politics) and as a democratic challenge (increasing the propensity of par-ties towards populism, ‘seasonal’ membership, corruption and clientelism).
2016
9
152
180
Soare, Sorina; Iancu, Alexandra
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1089420
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